Device for testing angle of view of camera

ABSTRACT

The present invention relates to a device for testing an angle of view of a camera. The present invention may comprise: a first light source which is arranged to face an image sensor, and has a first width and a second width longer than the first width; and a second light source and a third light source which are disposed on both sides of the image sensor in the direction of the first width, respectively. The present invention can inhibit an interference of the light source or a bracket supporting the light source by reducing the number of light sources. In addition, since it is possible to measure the angle of view of a camera by reducing the light sources, the present invention can reduce the manufacturing costs of a device for testing an angle of view of a camera.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is the U.S. national stage application of theInternational Patent Application No. PCT/KR2016/010004, filed Sep. 7,2016, which claims priority to Korean Application No. 10-2015-0127250,filed Sep. 8, 2015, the disclosures of each of which are incorporatedherein by reference in their entirety.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The teachings in accordance with exemplary and non-limiting embodimentsof this invention relate generally to a device for testing angle of viewof camera (hereinafter referred to preferably as “camera view angletesting device”), and more specifically, to a device for testing angleof view of vehicle camera.

BACKGROUND ART

In general, testing of an angle of view of a camera (hereinafterreferred to as “camera view angle testing”) is realized by checkingwhether a light is received that is incident at a predetermined angle ona certain point of an image sensor accommodated in a camera module.

A vehicle camera is generally supplied in one assembled module state ofan image sensor and a lens, and at this time, when a focus and opticalaxis between the lens and the image sensor are not accurately aligned,it is difficult to realize a desired high performance of camerafunction.

That is, when an image is photographed by a camera, a clear and cleanimage can be photographed when a light of a subject incident through alens is captured with an accurate focus and optical axis on an imagesensor, where an image becomes blurred, resulting in a great degradedreliability of a camera, when assembly is completed with the lens andthe image sensor not being properly aligned.

Furthermore, a horizontal angle of view (hereinafter referred to as“view angle”) in a vehicle camera is more important than a vertical viewangle due to its characteristics, and in light of the fact that aconventional view angle testing device was intended to measure not onlya horizontal view angle but also a vertical view angle, a lot of lightsources has been required in order to measure a view angle of a vehiclecamera through the conventional view angle testing device.

In addition, in order to ascertain a wider view a super wide anglecamera having a view angle over 180° has been recently developed,however, the conventional view angle testing device applied with thesuper wide angle camera is still insufficient to measure a view angle ofa vehicle camera.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION Technical Subject

The present invention is provided to solve the abovementioneddisadvantages/problems, and it is an object of the present invention toprovide a camera view angle testing device reduced in the number oflight sources in order to inhibit a physical mutual interference of thelight sources when the light sources are set in order to test a lensview angle.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a camera viewangle testing device configured to test a super wide horizontal viewangle exceeding 180° by arranging one light source for vertical viewangle of a lens while arranging a plurality of light sources forhorizontal view angle of the lens.

Still another object is to provide a camera view angle testing deviceconfigured to measure a view angle of a lens and to simultaneouslyadjust a focus of a light received on an image sensor by rightlycorrecting a twist or tilt phenomenon of the image sensor.

Technical Solution

In one general aspect of the present invention, there is provided adevice for testing an angle of view of a camera (camera view angletesting device), the device comprising:

-   a first light source which is arranged to face an image sensor, and    has a first width and a second width relatively longer than the    first width; and-   a second light source and a third light source which are disposed on    both sides of the image sensor in the direction of the first width,    respectively, based on the image sensor.

Preferably, but not necessarily, the image sensor may receive a lightemitted from the first light source to a lengthwise direction of thefirst width at 0˜0.7 field, and the image sensor may receive a lightemitted from the first light source to a lengthwise direction of thesecond width at 0˜0.5 field, when the image sensor is divided from acenter of light reception region to a farthest point at 0˜0.7 field.

Preferably, but not necessarily, the image sensor may have a third widthand a fourth width relatively shorter than the third width, and adirection of the first width may correspond to a direction of the thirdwidth, and a direction of the second width may correspond to a directionof the fourth width.

Preferably, but not necessarily, a lengthwise direction of the firstwidth may be orthogonal to a lengthwise direction of the second width.

Preferably, but not necessarily, the first light source may be disposedin parallel with the image sensor.

Preferably, but not necessarily, the second light source or the thirdlight source may be disposed at over 180° along a lengthwise directionof the first width about the image sensor.

Preferably, but not necessarily, the second light source or the thirdlight source may be disposed at a radius-identical imaginary sphericaltangent surface.

Preferably, but not necessarily, the second light source or the thirdlight source may be such that a length of lengthwise direction at thesecond width is shorter than a length of the second width.

Preferably, but not necessarily, the second light source or the thirdlight source may be such that a length of lengthwise direction at thesecond width is same as a length of the second width.

Preferably, but not necessarily, any one or more of the first to thirdlight sources may include an LED lamp.

In another general aspect of the present invention, there is provided adevice for testing an angle of view of a camera (camera view angletesting device), the device comprising:

-   a first light source which is arranged to face an image sensor; and-   second, third, fourth and fifth light sources, each diagonally    arranged from a center of the first light source, wherein any one    diagonal line of the first light source and the second and fourth    light sources may abut to any one imaginary radius about the image    sensor, and the other diagonal line of the first light source and    the third light source and the fifth light source may abut to    another imaginary radius about the image sensor.

Preferably, but not necessarily, each of a plural number of second tofifth light sources may be disposed on an imaginary radius about theimage sensor.

Advantageous Effects

The present invention can inhibit an interference of the light source ora bracket supporting the light source by reducing the number of lightsources. In addition, since it is possible to measure the angle of viewof a camera by reducing the light sources, the present invention canreduce the manufacturing costs of a device for testing an angle of viewof a camera. Furthermore, control is easy because a time for adjusting adistance between a light source and an image sensor can be greatlyreduced, whereby it is possible to test a view angle of a particularcamera and various other cameras as well, and therefore, the presentinvention is adequate to a super wide angle test measuring a horizontalview angle exceeding 180°.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a schematic conceptual view of a camera view angle testingdevice in a form of a perspective view manner according to a firstexemplary embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a schematic plan view illustrating an image sensor disposed ata camera view angle testing device according to a first exemplaryembodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a schematic view illustrating a camera view angle testingdevice in a form of a cross-sectional view manner according to a firstexemplary embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a schematic view illustrating a modification of FIG. 3.

FIG. 5 is a schematic conceptual view of camera view angle testingdevice in a form of a perspective view manner according to a secondexemplary embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a schematic conceptual view of camera view angle testingdevice in a form of a perspective view manner according to a thirdexemplary embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 7 is a schematic view illustrating a modification of FIG. 6.

BEST MODE

Some of the exemplary embodiments of the present invention will bedescribed with the accompanying drawings. Detailed descriptions ofwell-known functions, configurations or constructions are omitted forbrevity and clarity so as not to obscure the description of the presentdisclosure with unnecessary detail. Furthermore, throughout thedescriptions, the same reference numerals will be assigned to the sameelements in the explanations of the figures.

Furthermore, the terms “first,” “second,” “A”, “B”, (a), (b) and thelike, herein do not denote any order, quantity, or importance, butrather are used to distinguish one element from another. In thefollowing description and/or claims, the terms coupled and/or connected,along with their derivatives, may be used. In particular embodiments,connected may be used to indicate that two or more elements are indirect physical and/or electrical contact with each other. “Coupled” maymean that two or more elements are in direct physical and/or electricalcontact. However, coupled may also mean that two or more elements maynot be in direct contact with each other, but yet may still cooperateand/or interact with each other. For example, “coupled”, “joined” and“connected” may mean that two or more elements do not contact each otherbut are indirectly joined together via another element or intermediateelements.

<First Exemplary Embodiment>

Now, a configuration of a camera view angle testing device according toa first exemplary embodiment of the present invention will be describedin detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

FIG. 1 is a schematic conceptual view of a camera view angle testingdevice in a form of a perspective view manner according to a firstexemplary embodiment of the present invention,

FIG. 2 is a schematic plan view illustrating an image sensor disposed ata camera view angle testing device according to a first exemplaryembodiment of the present invention, FIG. 3 is a schematic viewillustrating a camera view angle testing device in a form of across-sectional view manner according to a first exemplary embodiment ofthe present invention, and FIG. 4 is a schematic view illustrating amodification of FIG. 3.

Referring to FIG. 1, the camera view angle testing device according tothe first exemplary embodiment of the present invention may includefirst to third light sources (210, 220, 230). Each of the first to thirdlight sources (210, 220, 230) may include an LED (Light-Emitting Diode)lamp. For example, each of the first to third light sources (210, 220,230) may be partially formed with an LED lamp, or may be formed toinclude a plurality of LED lamps. Furthermore, the first light source(210) may take a larger area than an area in which the second and thirdlight sources are combined, and the first light source (210) may beformed to have an area to cover the second and third light sources (220,230). In addition, albeit not being illustrated in the drawings, astructure formed with a predetermined pattern may be provided betweenthe first to third light sources (210, 220, 230) and a lens (10), and alight received on an image sensor (100) can have the predeterminedpattern by the structure to allow the image sensor (100) to testdetection of the light. Furthermore, although FIG. 1 has not illustratedthe lens (10) in the configuration of the camera module, FIG. 1 isintended to illustrate arrangement of the image sensor (100) and thefirst to third light sources (210, 220, 230), and therefore, it shouldbe imagined that the lens (10) exists between the image sensor (100) andthe first to third light sources (210, 220, 230) (see FIGS. 3 and 4). Inaddition, it should be also appreciated that the size of the imagesensor (100) is illustrated in an exaggerated manner in order to helpunderstand the first exemplary embodiment of the present invention.albeit not being illustrated in the drawings, a frame (not shown) or abracket (not shown) supporting the first to third light sources (210,220, 230) may be provided to adjust positions of the first to thirdlight sources (210, 220, 230).

Now, referring to FIGS. 3 and 4, the first light source (210) may bedisposed to face the image sensor (100, described later) to irradiate alight toward the image sensor (100). In other words, the first lightsource (210) may be disposed to face and in parallel with the imagesensor (100). Although the first light source (210) is illustrated in ashape of a rectangle or an oval shape, the present invention is notlimited thereto, and the first light source (210) may take variousshapes. Referring to FIG. 1, the first light source (210) may include afirst width (211) and a second width (212). The first width (211) andthe second width (212) may be mutually orthogonally formed and the firstwidth (211) may be narrower than the second width (212). That is, thefirst light source (210) may be configured in such a manner that thesecond width (212) is formed to be longer than the first width (211) toallow measuring a vertical view angle of the lens (10) on the imagesensor (100).

The second light source (220) and the third light source (230) may be sodisposed as to symmetrically face at both sides of the first lightsource (210). That is, the second light source (220) and the third lightsource (230) may be symmetrically disposed relative to an optical axisof a lens module or a camera module to be tested, and may besymmetrically disposed about a straight line perpendicular to an uppersurface of the image sensor (100). Thus, the second light source (220)and the third light source (230) may be so disposed as not to be inparallel with an optical axis, and the second light source (220) and thethird light source (230) may be slantedly disposed relative to anoptical axis. The second light source (220) and the third light source(230) may be formed in a relatively smaller size than the first lightsource (210).

Although FIG. 1 has illustrated that each of the second light source(220) and the third light source (230) takes a square shape, the presentinvention is not limited thereto, and the second light source (220) andthe third light source (230) may be disposed to a lengthwise directionof the first width (211) at the first light source (210) to allowmeasuring a horizontal view angle of the lens (10). To be more specific,the horizontal view angle of the lens (10) may be changed that ismeasurable in response to an arrangement of the second light source(220) and the third light source (230). For example, the lens (10) mayhave a view angle exceeding 180° corresponding to a supper wide angle inthe first exemplary embodiment of the present invention, whereby thesecond light source (220) and the third light source (230) may be soarranged as to be over 180° (α) about the image sensor (100) in responseto a user selection (see FIG. 4) in order to measure the view angle ofthe lens (10). Furthermore, the second light source (220) and the thirdlight source (230) may be so arranged as to abut to the first lightsource (210), which may depend on intention of a user that intends tomeasure a view angle of the lens (10).

FIG. 2 is a schematic plan view illustrating an image sensor disposed ata camera view angle testing device according to a first exemplaryembodiment of the present invention.

Referring to FIG. 2, the image sensor (100) according to a firstexemplary embodiment of the present invention may take a square shape,and may have a third width (120) and a fourth width (130). At this time,each of the third width (120) and the fourth width (130) may have a samelength or may have a different length. For example, the third width(120) may be formed to be longer than the fourth width (130).Furthermore, the third width (120) may be formed in parallel with adirection of the first width (211) to correspond to the first width(211) of the first light source (210), and the fourth width (130) may beformed in parallel with a direction of the second width (212) tocorrespond to the second width (212) of the first light source (210).

The image sensor (100) may be provided at one surface with a lightreception area (110) to receive a light from a light source, where it isexplained hereinafter that a point from a center of the light receptionarea (110) to a farthest area of the light reception area (110) isclassified as 0˜1 field, where the field may include an area (i.e.,concentric circle) as much as a distance from the center of the lightreception area (110).

Referring to FIGS. 1 and 2, the first light source (210) is configuredto measure a vertical view angle of a lens (not shown) and may have asecond width (212) in order to receive a light to be irradiated on anarea from 0 field to 0.5 field (a) on the image sensor (100). Althoughit is not that the other remaining areas in the light reception area(110) on the image sensor (100) do not receive a light, there is no needto measure all the vertical view angles according to the first exemplaryembodiment of the present invention, because the horizontal view angleis more important than the vertical view angle of the lens in terms ofcharacteristics of a vehicle camera. However, when the image sensor(100) is squarely formed, a light irradiated on an area up to 0.5 fieldcan cover an area to a fourth width (130) direction from the center ofthe light reception area (110).

Meantime, the second light source (220) and the third light source (230)are intended to measure a horizontal view angle of the lens, and may bedisposed at an area where the first light source (210) having the firstwidth (211) cannot irradiate a light to the lens (10). In other words,the second light source (220) and the third light source (230) may besymmetrically arranged about an optical axis in response to a user'sselection, or may be arranged along a lengthwise direction of the firstwidth (211) of the first light source (210), where a wider horizontalview angle can be measured when an arrangement angle of the second lightsource (220) and the third light source (230) is widened. At this time,a horizontal view angle of a light irradiated from the second lightsource (220) and the third light source (230) can be measured from 0field to 0.7 field (b).

As detailed above, the light may be measured at a wider area (0 to 0.7field) than an area (0 to 0.5 field) measuring the vertical view angle,because the horizontal view angle is more important than the verticalview angle of the lens in the aspect of characteristics of a vehiclecamera according to the first exemplary embodiment of the presentinvention. In other words, a light from the first to third light sources(210, 220, 230) can be received at an area of lengthwise direction basedon the light reception area (110), where the light can cover a fourthwidth (130) corresponding to the vertical view angle. It should beapparent that other remaining areas than 0 to 0.7 field in the lightreception area (110) can receive a light.

Now, referring to FIGS. 3 and 4, the first to third light sources (210,220, 230) in the camera view angle testing device according to the firstexemplary embodiment of the present invention may be disposed at atangent surface on one spherical surface. That is, a distance from eachof the first to third light sources (210, 220, 230) to the lens (10) issame (l), and when a nearest distance from each of the first to thirdlight sources (210, 220, 230) to the lens (10) is extended, thedistances may meet at a center of a sphere where the first to thirdlight sources (210, 220, 230) are tangent surfaces to thereby form aradius of the sphere. Furthermore, the first to third light sources(210, 220, 230) may be so arranged as to form a perpendicular line on asurface facing the lens (10) of the first to third light sources (210,220, 230) relative to a straight line formed as a shortest distance fromthe center of the image sensor (110) to the first to third light sources(210, 220,230).

Furthermore, the second light source (220) and the third light source(230) may be so arranged as to meet a view angle desired to be measuredby the user's selection. For example, as illustrated in FIG. 4, thesecond light source (220) and the third light source (230) may be soarranged as to be widened at more than 180° from the center of theimaginary sphere. That is, unexplained reference numeral αin FIG. 4indicates an angle over 180°.

<Second Exemplary Embodiment>

Now, a configuration of a camera view angle testing device according toa second exemplary embodiment of the present invention will be describedin detail with reference to the accompanying drawing.

FIG. 5 is a schematic conceptual view of camera view angle testingdevice in a form of a perspective view manner according to a secondexemplary embodiment of the present invention.

Referring to FIG. 5, the camera view angle testing device according tothe second exemplary embodiment of the present invention may includefirst to third light sources (310, 320, 330), where the second lightsource (320) and the third light source (330) may be arranged to alengthwise direction of a first width (311), and where a distance to alengthwise direction of a second width (312) of the second and thirdlight sources (320, 330) may be identical to a distance of the secondwidth (312) of the first light source (310), which is to measure notonly a horizontal view angle of a lens (not shown) but also a verticalview angle of the lens, and other details are same as those in the firstexemplary embodiment except for the length to a direction of secondwidth (312)at the second and third light sources (320, 330).

Furthermore, although FIG. 5 has illustrated that the second and thirdlight sources (320,330) are arranged to abut to both sides of a firstwidth (311) direction of the first light source (310), the presentinvention is not limited thereto, and depending on a user's selection,it is possible for the second and third light sources (320, 330) to bearranged to be spaced apart from the first light source (310) in orderto measure a horizontal view angle of a lens as in the first exemplaryembodiment of the present invention. In addition, when the lens is soformed as to have a view angle corresponding to a super wide angleexceeding 180° in order to measure a view angle of the lens, the secondand third light sources (320, 330) may be arranged to be widened over180° about an image sensor (not shown). Hereinafter, other content tothe second exemplary embodiment will be omitted because it can beinferred from the first exemplary embodiment.

<Third Exemplary Embodiment>

Now, a configuration of a camera view angle testing device according toa third exemplary embodiment of the present invention will be describedin detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

FIG. 6 is a schematic conceptual view of camera view angle testingdevice in a form of a perspective view manner according to a thirdexemplary embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 7 is a schematicview illustrating a modification of FIG. 6.

Referring to FIG. 6, a light source (400) may include first to fifthlight sources (410, 420, 430, 440, 450), where the second to fifth lightsources (420, 430, 440, 450) may be arranged in a radially unfoldedmanner about the first light source (410). That is, the first lightsource (410) may be formed in a shape of a square, and a center of thesecond to fifth light sources (420, 430, 440, 450) may be disposed on aplane including a straight line formed to a diagonal direction from acenter of the first light source (410).

For example, any one diagonal line of the first light source (410) andthe second light source (420) and fourth light sources (440) may abut toany one imaginary semi-circle about an image sensor (100). Furthermore,another diagonal line of the first light source (410) and the thirdlight source (430) and the fifth light source (450) may abut to anotherimaginary semi-circle about the image sensor (100). Still furthermore,albeit not being illustrated in the drawing, other light sources may befurther arranged depending on a user's intention in addition to thesecond to fifth light sources (420, 430, 440, 450) in the thirdexemplary embodiment of the present invention.

Referring to FIG. 7, a plurality of second to fifth light sources (420,430, 440, 450) may be formed. That is, the plurality of second to fifthlight sources (420, 430, 440, 450) may be arranged on an imaginarysemi-circle about the image sensor (100). At this time, a plurality ofsecond light sources (420) and a plurality of fourth light sources (440)may be arranged on one semi-circle about the image sensor (100), and aplurality of third light sources (430) and a plurality of fifth lightsources (450) may be arranged on another semi-circle about the imagesensor (100). However, the number of light sources is not limited aslong as it is an arrangement for measuring a view angle according to auser's intention.

The abovementioned camera view angle testing device according to thefirst to third exemplary embodiments of the present invention is notonly for measuring a view angle of a camera, but also for performing afunction of matching a focus of a light received by the image sensor(100). That is, when a twist or a tilt of an image sensor (100) isgenerated in the course of assembling a camera module, it is possible toaccurately adjust a focus of a received light by adjusting a position ofthe image sensor (100) in response to the light irradiated by the firstlight source (210, 310) arranged vertically to an optical axis of theimage sensor (100).

Although the abovementioned embodiments have been described in detail inorder to implement the camera view angle testing device according to thepresent invention, the embodiments are, however, intended to beillustrative only, and thereby do not limit the scope of protection ofthe present invention. Thereby, it should be appreciated by the skilledin the art that changes, modifications and amendments to the aboveexamples may be made without deviating from the scope of protection ofthe invention.

The invention claimed is:
 1. A device for testing an angle of view of a camera, the camera comprising an image sensor, the device comprising: a first light source for measuring a vertical view angle of the camera, the first light source being disposed over the image sensor, wherein the first light source is arranged to face the image sensor, wherein the first light source comprises a first side having a first width and extending in a first lengthwise direction, and a second side having a second width extending in a second lengthwise direction different from the first lengthwise direction, and wherein the second width is longer than the first width; and a second light source and a third light source for measuring a horizontal view angle of the camera, the second light source and the third light source being respectively disposed on both opposite sides, in the first lengthwise direction, of the image sensor.
 2. The device of claim 1, wherein the image sensor receives a light emitted from the first light source to a direction perpendicular to the second side at 0˜0.7 field, and the image sensor receives a light emitted from the first light source to a direction perpendicular to the first side at 0˜0.5 field, when the image sensor is divided from a center of a light reception region to a farthest point at 0˜0.7 field.
 3. The device of claim 2, wherein the image sensor comprises: a first side having a third width and extending in the first lengthwise direction; and a second side having a fourth width and extending in the second lengthwise direction, wherein the fourth width is shorter than the third width.
 4. The device of claim 1, wherein the first lengthwise direction is orthogonal to the second lengthwise direction.
 5. The device of claim 1, wherein the first light source is disposed in parallel with the image sensor.
 6. The device of claim 1, wherein the second light source or the third light source is disposed at an angle of over 180° along the first lengthwise direction.
 7. The device of claim 1, wherein the second light source or the third light source is disposed at a radius-identical imaginary spherical tangent surface.
 8. The device of claim 1, wherein at least one of the second light source and the third light source is configured such that a width thereof, measured in the second lengthwise direction, is shorter than the second width.
 9. The device of claim 1, wherein at least one of the second light source and the third light source is configured such that a width thereof, measured in the second lengthwise direction, is the same as the second width.
 10. The device of claim 1, wherein any one or more of the first to third light sources includes an LED lamp.
 11. A device for testing an angle of view of a camera, the camera comprising an image sensor, the device comprising: a first light source for measuring a vertical view angle of the camera, the first light source being disposed over the image sensor, being arranged to face an the image sensor and comprising a first corner, a second corner, a third corner, and a fourth corner; and a second light source, a third light source, a fourth light source, and a fifth light source for measuring a horizontal view angle of the camera; wherein the second light source is arranged corresponding to and facing the first corner of the first light source while being directly under a first imaginary line that goes through a center of the first light source and the first corner of the first light source; wherein the third light source is arranged corresponding to and facing the second corner of the first light source while being directly under a second imaginary line that goes through the center of the first light source and the second corner of the first light source; wherein the fourth light source is arranged corresponding to and facing the third corner of the first light source while being directly under a third imaginary line that goes through the center of the first light source and the third corner of the first light source; and wherein the fifth light source is arranged corresponding to and facing the fourth corner of the first light source while being directly under a fourth imaginary line that goes through the center of the first light source and the fourth corner of the first light source.
 12. The device of claim 11, wherein at least two of the second light source, the third light source, the fourth light source, and the fifth light source are disposed directly above a fifth imaginary line that traces a circumference of an imaginary circle lying in a same plane as the image sensor and having a center of the image sensor as its center. 